Generic underground research facility: Bukov URF, Czech Republic · 2016. 11. 30. · Bukov URF,...

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Generic underground research facility: Bukov URF, Czech Republic The SURAO generic research programme is focused on the detailed testing of the crystalline rock concept. Generic laboratories serve as training centres for staff members, experimentation involving mock-up experiments and the development of methodologies for the study of rock conditions in underground environments. One of the most important aspects of generic research consists of the testing of the validity of data collected from the earth's surface and the approximation of such data to depths at which the construction of the repository is envisaged. SURAO has close connections with three underground research centres in the Czech Republic: the Josef Gallery, the Bedřichov Water Supply Tunnel and the Bukov Underground Research Facility (Bukov URF). The Bukov underground generic laboratory is located in the eastern part of the Czech Republic near the Kraví hora candidate repository site and adjacent to the Rožná uranium mine at a depth of 600m below the earth's surface. From the geological point of view the facility is located in the north eastern part of the Moldanubian Zone of the Variscan orogen and is composed of migmatitised paragneisses with amphibolite layers. The felsic granulites display the same deformational history as that of the nearby Kraví hora candidate locality. www.surao.cz Construction Construction commenced in 2013 with the blasting of the main access tunnel. Following an intensive drilling campaign (the total length of the boreholes amounted to 500m) two suitable rock blocks were defined for testing purposes: a consolidated block made up of high quality rock intended for diffusion and demonstration experiments and slightly fractured rock for the performance of migration, hydraulic and material tests. The laboratory itself consists of a 300m- long connecting cross gallery with a profile of 9.2m2 leading from the access shaft and the underground facility itself consisting of a 90m-long large-profile chamber and a gallery niche system with a total length of 40m. The second test chamber section consists of a 20m-long niche in the front part of the access tunnel. Rock bolts will be used to provide support for the underground sections supplemented with yieldable TH arches in areas exhibiting more complicated geological conditions. The intensive drilling campaign consisted of the drilling of a series of exploration boreholes of a total length of 500m into the walls of the access tunnel for geophysical and hydrogeological monitoring purposes. The conventional blasting method was used for the excavation of the access tunnel, whereas the smooth blasting method was applied with respect to the laboratory niches. Prague URF Josef Bedřichov URF Bukov Introduction The scientific programme conducted during the construction of the facility concentrated on the characterization of the site from the geological, geomechanical and hydrogeological points of view. TThe characterization programme will include the following research areas: Complex geological characterization The application of a range of geological methods will be aimed at obtaining a multidisciplinary description of the host rock in order to assist in determining the optimum location for the performance of the experimental programme. Geological characterization will comprise geological and structural mapping and the deciphering of the temporal, spatial and thermal evolution of the ductile and brittle pattern. Geotechnical characterization The geotechnical programme will be made up of three specific areas: (i) stress monitoring, (ii) geotechnical laboratory testing and (iii) seismic monitoring. Hydrogeological properties of the rock mass An understanding of the behaviour of water within the repository system is crucial in terms of safety case considerations. Hydrogeological studies therefore include the monitoring of water influx and the evolution of the chemical and physical properties of water collected from the surrounding rock. Borehole hydrogeological tests, tracer tests and water pressure tests will be conducted during the experimental phase. Synthetic geosphere models The application of the methods described above will result in the construction of the following synthetic geosphere models: 3D structural-geological model 3D hydrogeological model 3D geotechnical model Characterization Fig. 2 URF Bukov as part of U mine Rožná URF Bukov Experimental programme The underground research facility research and experimental (R&E) programme will be conducted in very similar conditions to those expected at the location of the future deep geological repository. The Bukov URF will serve as a test site for assessing the behaviour of the rocks at the candidate sites at a depth matching the expected depth of the deep geological repository until the final site is selected and the confirmation underground laboratory is built at that site. The experimental programme consists of 7 basic areas: R&E Programme 1: Pilot characterization of the rocks in order to test the methodology for setting up 3D Geo / GT / HG models of the site R&E Programme 2: Testing of long-term monitoring methods for processes occurring at repository depth R&E Programme 3: Testing of groundwater flow / radionuclide transport models of the fracture environment of the DGR R&E Programme 4: Testing of the effect of the rock at repository depth on the properties of the engineered barriers R&E Programme 5: Testing of the development of excavation disturbed/damaged zones in crystalline complex rocks at repository depth R&E Programme 6: Investigation of the effect of the rock massif on the

Transcript of Generic underground research facility: Bukov URF, Czech Republic · 2016. 11. 30. · Bukov URF,...

Page 1: Generic underground research facility: Bukov URF, Czech Republic · 2016. 11. 30. · Bukov URF, Czech Republic The SURAO generic research programme is focused on the detailed testing

Generic underground research facility: Bukov URF, Czech Republic

The SURAO generic research programme is focused on the detailed testing of the

crystalline rock concept. Generic laboratories serve as training centres for staff

members, experimentation involving mock-up experiments and the development

of methodologies for the study of rock conditions in underground environments.

One of the most important aspects of generic research consists of the testing of the

validity of data collected from the earth's surface and the approximation of such

data to depths at which the construction of the repository is envisaged. SURAO

has close connections with three underground research centres in the Czech

Republic: the Josef Gallery, the Bedřichov Water Supply Tunnel and the Bukov

Underground Research Facility (Bukov URF). The Bukov underground generic

laboratory is located in the eastern part of the Czech Republic near the Kraví hora

candidate repository site and adjacent to the Rožná uranium mine at a depth of

600m below the earth's surface. From the geological point of view the facility is

located in the north eastern part of the Moldanubian Zone of the Variscan orogen

and is composed of migmatitised paragneisses with amphibolite layers. The felsic

granulites display the same deformational history as that of the nearby Kraví hora

candidate locality.

www.surao.cz

Construction Construction commenced in 2013 with the blasting of the main access tunnel.

Following an intensive drilling campaign (the total length of the boreholes

amounted to 500m) two suitable rock blocks were defined for testing purposes: a

consolidated block made up of high quality rock intended for diffusion and

demonstration experiments and slightly fractured rock for the performance of

migration, hydraulic and material tests. The laboratory itself consists of a 300m-

long connecting cross gallery with a profile of 9.2m2 leading from the access

shaft and the underground facility itself consisting of a 90m-long large-profile

chamber and a gallery niche system with a total length of 40m. The second test

chamber section consists of a 20m-long niche in the front part of the access

tunnel. Rock bolts will be used to provide support for the underground sections

supplemented with yieldable TH arches in areas exhibiting more complicated

geological conditions. The intensive drilling campaign consisted of the drilling of

a series of exploration boreholes of a total length of 500m into the walls of the

access tunnel for geophysical and hydrogeological monitoring purposes. The

conventional blasting method was used for the excavation of the access tunnel,

whereas the smooth blasting method was applied with respect to the laboratory

niches.

Prague

URF Josef

Bedřichov

URF Bukov

Introduction

The scientific programme conducted during the construction of the facility

concentrated on the characterization of the site from the geological,

geomechanical and hydrogeological points of view. TThe characterization

programme will include the following research areas:

Complex geological characterization

The application of a range of geological methods will be aimed at obtaining a

multidisciplinary description of the host rock in order to assist in determining the

optimum location for the performance of the experimental programme.

Geological characterization will comprise geological and structural mapping and

the deciphering of the temporal, spatial and thermal evolution of the ductile and

brittle pattern.

Geotechnical characterization

The geotechnical programme will be made up of three specific areas: (i) stress

monitoring, (ii) geotechnical laboratory testing and (iii) seismic monitoring.

Hydrogeological properties of the rock mass

An understanding of the behaviour of water within the repository system is

crucial in terms of safety case considerations. Hydrogeological studies therefore

include the monitoring of water influx and the evolution of the chemical and

physical properties of water collected from the surrounding rock. Borehole

hydrogeological tests, tracer tests and water pressure tests will be conducted

during the experimental phase.

Synthetic geosphere models

The application of the methods described above will result in the construction of

the following synthetic geosphere models:3D structural-geological model3D hydrogeological model3D geotechnical model

Characterization

Fig. 2 URF Bukov as part of U mine Rožná

URF Bukov

Experimental programme The underground research facility research and experimental (R&E) programme

will be conducted in very similar conditions to those expected at the location of

the future deep geological repository. The Bukov URF will serve as a test site for

assessing the behaviour of the rocks at the candidate sites at a depth matching

the expected depth of the deep geological repository until the final site is selected

and the confirmation underground laboratory is built at that site.

The experimental programme consists of 7 basic areas:

R&E Programme 1: Pilot characterization of the rocks in order to test the

methodology for setting up 3D Geo / GT / HG models of the site

R&E Programme 2: Testing of long-term monitoring methods for processes

occurring at repository depth

R&E Programme 3: Testing of groundwater flow / radionuclide transport models

of the fracture environment of the DGR

R&E Programme 4: Testing of the effect of the rock at repository depth on the

properties of the engineered barriers

R&E Programme 5: Testing of the development of excavation

disturbed/damaged zones in crystalline complex rocks at repository depth

R&E Programme 6: Investigation of the effect of the rock massif on the